What Is a Salvaged Vehicle?
A salvaged vehicle is a car or truck that has been wrecked or damaged due to an accident or flooding. The title of these vehicles will be identified with the word "salvaged."
Other People Are Reading
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Salvaged Defined
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A salvaged vehicle with a title and operating on the roadway has been previously damaged beyond its value but repaired using original or factory components to make it operable, according to dmv.org.
Types
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A salvaged vehicle can be damaged in a collision, flooding or through theft in which the vehicle has been stripped of its parts.
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Identification
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A salvaged vehicle can be identified if repairs have been made to the firewall, inner fenders and the trunk floor. A reattached vehicle identification number plate or resealed airbag covers also are signs of a salvaged vehicle, according to the Bureau of Automotive Repair.
The Numbers
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In California alone, more than 150,000 salvaged vehicles are returned to the road each year without a safety inspection, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Buyer Beware
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Some vehicles may not be properly repaired, posing a danger while driving, or have been fixed with stolen parts.
The Title
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The title to any car should be examined to determine whether it's salvaged. The vehicle's mileage when it was last sold and the owner of record should also be inspected.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of woodley wonderworks
